Document 3
“AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE FUTURE: A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
WITH A KOREAN FORTUNETELLER”
by David A.G. Johnson, Jr., 2000 Korea Studies Fellowship
Forty-eight hours had passed since arriving in South Korea, affectionately called The Land of Morning Calm.
Mongols had referred to solongo or rainbow. Seoul, South Korea’s modern capital, surrounded by towering mountains,
reflects the country’s intoxicating exuberance. Its young peoples’ blond-, red-, platinum-, and turquoise-tinted
hair became a familiar sight although a deceptive image. One needed to look deeper for the soul of Korea.
During my visit to South Korea as a recipient of a 2000 Korean Studies Fellowship at Korea University awarded by
the Korea Society, numerous experiences would enable me to lift the veil of Korean culture. One memorable occasion
involved a surprising episode that occurred after a delightful evening’s visit with a Korean student’s family in
North Seoul. Earlier I’d taught a lesson on the Negro Spirituals at the student’s school, Daeil Foreign Language
High School. Both of his parents were educated in the United States; the father was head of the engineering department
at Hanyang University. Hanyang is the former name for Seoul. A very thoughtful individual, he possessed a
well-developed sense of humor. My host, his youngest son, aged ten, and I jumped into a taxi and headed into
Seoul’s multicolored lit night. Our destination, a mystery, until my host announced we would visit a fortune-teller.
Rather I was scheduled to experience an important aspect of traditional Korea.
I was led to one of Seoul’s celebrated parks and introduced to the searching fortune-teller who sat in an Asian style
squatting position. Dressed completely in white hanbok (Korean clothes), he held a flickering and dim oil
lantern as I sat on a low folding stool. Visiting a fortune-teller was completely novel—something never contemplated
in bustling New York—full of its own colorful predictors of the future.
The veteran male fortune-teller consulted his SAJU Book—SA meaning four, JU meaning pillars, thus the major
columns of one’s birth: year, month, day, and hour. All Korean fortune-tellers use the SAJU Book; their interpretations
distinguish their craft. I was amused when the curious fortune-teller inquired about the time differences
between Korea and New York to calculate information based upon the ancient/lunar calendar. He appeared surprised
to learn I was a native of the Garden State, New Jersey. In addition, I received a palm reading. He peered
intently into my left palm, examined the lines, reviewed past events, and delivered solemn predictions. One cannot
vouch for the fortune-teller’s accuracy as he discussed my health, past, economics and longevity. His imprecision
was more than compensated for by an authentic glimpse into Korean society.
What fascinated me was the professor’s disbelief in fortune-tellers even as he was eager for me to meet one.
My own skepticism was validated, but the encounter had been considered amusing. As I was to learn further
during my odyssey in Korea, many Koreans especially the young possess a similar attitude. Fortune-tellers are
increasingly visited as entertainment. Upon reflection, there is perhaps a part of every Korean that may in fact
want to believe the fortune-teller. And who—whether residing in the United States or on the Korean peninsula—
hasn’t wondered about the future? Consider the individuals who faithfully pour over daily newspaper horoscopes.
And of course, they don’t believe either. It’s simply for fun!
I received a magnificent gift from my Korean host family and am considerably more aware of a special aspect
of Korea. The Mongols were correct in describing Korea as a rainbow: :a pot of gold awaits imaginative open minded
visitors. For me, it was an unmistakable trans-cultural encounter with the present and future.
“AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE FUTURE: A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
WITH A KOREAN FORTUNETELLER”
by David A.G. Johnson, Jr., 2000 Korea Studies Fellowship
Forty-eight hours had passed since arriving in South Korea, affectionately called The Land of Morning Calm.
Mongols had referred to solongo or rainbow. Seoul, South Korea’s modern capital, surrounded by towering mountains,
reflects the country’s intoxicating exuberance. Its young peoples’ blond-, red-, platinum-, and turquoise-tinted
hair became a familiar sight although a deceptive image. One needed to look deeper for the soul of Korea.
During my visit to South Korea as a recipient of a 2000 Korean Studies Fellowship at Korea University awarded by
the Korea Society, numerous experiences would enable me to lift the veil of Korean culture. One memorable occasion
involved a surprising episode that occurred after a delightful evening’s visit with a Korean student’s family in
North Seoul. Earlier I’d taught a lesson on the Negro Spirituals at the student’s school, Daeil Foreign Language
High School. Both of his parents were educated in the United States; the father was head of the engineering department
at Hanyang University. Hanyang is the former name for Seoul. A very thoughtful individual, he possessed a
well-developed sense of humor. My host, his youngest son, aged ten, and I jumped into a taxi and headed into
Seoul’s multicolored lit night. Our destination, a mystery, until my host announced we would visit a fortune-teller.
Rather I was scheduled to experience an important aspect of traditional Korea.
I was led to one of Seoul’s celebrated parks and introduced to the searching fortune-teller who sat in an Asian style
squatting position. Dressed completely in white hanbok (Korean clothes), he held a flickering and dim oil
lantern as I sat on a low folding stool. Visiting a fortune-teller was completely novel—something never contemplated
in bustling New York—full of its own colorful predictors of the future.
The veteran male fortune-teller consulted his SAJU Book—SA meaning four, JU meaning pillars, thus the major
columns of one’s birth: year, month, day, and hour. All Korean fortune-tellers use the SAJU Book; their interpretations
distinguish their craft. I was amused when the curious fortune-teller inquired about the time differences
between Korea and New York to calculate information based upon the ancient/lunar calendar. He appeared surprised
to learn I was a native of the Garden State, New Jersey. In addition, I received a palm reading. He peered
intently into my left palm, examined the lines, reviewed past events, and delivered solemn predictions. One cannot
vouch for the fortune-teller’s accuracy as he discussed my health, past, economics and longevity. His imprecision
was more than compensated for by an authentic glimpse into Korean society.
What fascinated me was the professor’s disbelief in fortune-tellers even as he was eager for me to meet one.
My own skepticism was validated, but the encounter had been considered amusing. As I was to learn further
during my odyssey in Korea, many Koreans especially the young possess a similar attitude. Fortune-tellers are
increasingly visited as entertainment. Upon reflection, there is perhaps a part of every Korean that may in fact
want to believe the fortune-teller. And who—whether residing in the United States or on the Korean peninsula—
hasn’t wondered about the future? Consider the individuals who faithfully pour over daily newspaper horoscopes.
And of course, they don’t believe either. It’s simply for fun!
I received a magnificent gift from my Korean host family and am considerably more aware of a special aspect
of Korea. The Mongols were correct in describing Korea as a rainbow: :a pot of gold awaits imaginative open minded
visitors. For me, it was an unmistakable trans-cultural encounter with the present and future.